ConnSENSE Review: TextHELP Gold Version 8

Texthelp Systems, Inc.
545 Bolyston Street, 3rd Floor
Boston, MA 02116
888-248-0652

E-mail: u.s.info@texthelp.com
Read & Write 8 Gold can be purchased for single users at $645; contact company for multiple license/network costs.

It has been a while since we last reviewed Texthelp’s contribution to the literacy productivity software market. Rather than directing readers into our archives, I feel that this product is deserving of a fully updated review.

Read and Write 8 Gold is a program that helps individuals with reading and writing difficulties by providing access to both curricular and extracurricular reading and writing experiences. The program opens up as a floating toolbar that can be anchored at the top or to the sides of the computer screen. The program interfaces with applications such as word processors, databases, Internet and email, eliminating the need for separate “special” programs for students with learning needs. Read and Write 8 Gold contains a number of unique features that can serve to enhance the features of mainstream programs such as word processing. Take a look:

Speech: There are times when hearing voices is a very good thing. The speech engine in Read and Write 8 Gold makes Microsoft Word processing program a talking word processing program simply by placing the cursor in front of the text that you want read back to you or any where within a word and pressing the speech icon. This feature can also be set up to read as you type. As text is read, it is highlighted in two colors, calling visual attention to each word as it is read aloud.
Web Reading: It is possible to have text read aloud within Internet Explorer using the Web Highlighting feature located on the floating toolbar.
Translator: Provides translation of English words into Spanish. This feature works with any digital media on the computer, word processing documents, web pages, and digital textbooks. In addition to providing translations for words, the translator also provides translations of expressions as well. Selections offered by the translator can be read aloud. I put the translator to the test by asking a co-worker who uses Spanish as her primary language to listen to the translation; she confirmed that the translation was “excelente!”
Scanning: Documents can be scanned directly into MS Word, Adobe Reader and HTML to be read aloud. The program works well on virtually all types of text/fonts, making it possible to scan in pages from magazines, books, etc. that have a variation in fonts, text sizes and layouts. Once scanned, the documents can be saved to be reviewed when necessary.
Spell check: Not all spell checks are created equal and this one has a few extra nifty features including the ability to have the choices read aloud. Easy to recognize buttons on the pop-up dialog box makes it possible to make changes in the text and add words to the custom dictionary in a snap. The word choices presented can be highlighted to see the definition for each choice that appears in the dialog box to the right of the word. The definition can be read out loud assisting students in making the correct choice. I put this feature to the test by misspelling 10 words in a MS Word document; MS Word spell check was able to identify all 10 mistakes and phonetically decipher each one, offering me the correct spelling for all of them (although not always as the first choice). Read and Write 8 Gold also was able to identify all 10 spelling errors and phonetically deciphered 9 of them correctly, offering me the correct choice 9/10 times. What seemed to stump the program was the word “akshin” [action]; however,by using the advanced options of the Read and Write Spell Check program I was able to add the phonemes ak and shin to the phonetic map the next time around I was offered the correct spelling. Pritty kule!
Word prediction: Of all of the features available to assist students with writing skills, this feature is one of the most important. For some students, the word prediction options provide the power of the program, “making it or breaking it” so to speak. Read and Write 8 Gold comes through with an excellent word prediction program that has been expanded in this new version to offer a plethora of word choices. As text is entered, a list of possible words appear; there is the option to have them read out loud either automatically or when the mouse hovers over the word. Students can enter the words into the document by clicking on them or using the corresponding "F" key. Predicted words that are homophones are marked with a tiny ear, alerting the student to follow through as necessary.
Dictionary: At last a solution to the age old problem of asking the teacher how to spell a word only to be told to go look it up in the dictionary. Was it just me, or do you need to know how to spell a word in order to look it up? The dictionary feature offers the “Word Wizard” where you can enter the phonetic spelling of a word and a list of possible correct choices will appear. I noticed that once I added phonemes to the Spell Check “phonetic map” feature, those changes were reflected in the Word Wizard automatically [hence the “wizardry”]. Of course, the choices can be read out loud to help with the selection. Once a word is selected, a list of definitions appears. The dictionary feature offers two levels of definitions that can be accessed: basic and advanced. Words can also be looked up on the web providing there is a connection to the internet. Definitions can be read out loud; along with presenting the definitions, the dictionary acts as a thesaurus presenting options for additional selections that can be entered into the text with the click of a button.
Homophone support: When this feature is activated, homophones are highlighted in blue. A dialog box presents options for all homophones in the text and offers the option to make changes and/or have the words and definitions of alternative spellings read back to the student.
Calculator: The toolbar contains a calculator that carries out both standard and scientific functions. Because of the speech capabilities it can become a talking calculator at the press of a button. If you have ever had to purchase a scientific calculator for your kid this feature makes the program quite economical, particularly since they won’t be able to leave this one at the soccer field.
Speech Maker: This is a nifty feature that allows the conversion of text into an audio file. This allows a student to have an audio version of whatever it is they need to read and take it with them via MP3 player or burn it to a CD. This feature eliminates the need to only be able to have a text file read back when sitting at a computer that has the text reading program installed on it. It also enables a student to look like she’s listening to music while she’s reading a book; no one will know that the student is reading along while the text is read through the headphones.
Fact Finder: This feature allows students to find additional information on a topic by accessing the Internet without leaving their document. Simply highlight the word or term that you want to investigate and press the Fact Finder button to be taken to the search page of your choice.
Fact Folder: This feature allows you to highlight and save information that is found on the web. A dialog box opens enabling you to transfer the text and to enter notes about the information that you are copying. This feature is very valuable when doing research on the Internet and has been made even easier to use in this version.
Fact Mapper: New to Read & Write 8 Gold, this feature allows the student to organize information visually on the computer screen, providing a graphic organization of material. This is a strategy that is beneficial to all students in structuring their writing, not just students with disabilities. As more and more classrooms become high-tech having this feature displayed on an electronic whiteboard allows the entire class to visualize the organizational writing process.
PDF Aloud: This feature merges in with Adobe Reader appearing neatly on its toolbar. It enables individuals with reading difficulties to read all PDF files without having to copy or print and scan them. Conveniently, the files can be read simply by hovering the cursor over the text eliminating the need to highlight and click to have text read back. This tool along with the Web Highlighting feature ensures total access to text found on the Internet.
Speech Input:It is possible to dictate text into the program using a microphone; this feature does require user setup and training; a program is included to walk you through it.
Study Skills Toolbar: This is a toolbar that integrates into Microsoft Word allowing the student access to a number of tools such as colored highlighting.
Teachers Toolkit: This feature allows teachers to configure settings for individual users/groups; modify prediction lists; add phoneme maps; view student activity logs; modify dictionary definitions; restrict access to certain features; and edit pronunciations. Options are available to enable teachers to make tests completely accessible to students and to monitor progress.

Other changes to this edition of Read & Write 8 Gold include a more professional look to the toolbar (although the “fun” look is still available as an option); improved voices; activity specific toolbars that can be set up instantly for specific activities such as reading, writing, research or a custom design that is student/activity specific.

Read and Write 8 Gold continues with the Texthelp tradition of providing excellence when it comes to resources for students with learning disabilities. It is appealing to students because of its unobtrusive design and ease of use; likewise it is appealing to teachers because of its versatility and flexibility. Certainly one could say it’s worth its weight in GOLD. Kudos to the folks at Texthelp.

Read & Write 8 Gold for Windows